Category Archives: Education/Enrichment

Computer Programming Workshop @ the Library

Check out these exciting computer programming workshop, meetups and lectures coming up in the next weeks and months.

Teen Coding Meetups, 2:30-4:30 pm, Meeting Room A: Do you know the basics of coding and are now looking to extend your skill set while meeting like-minded teens in an informal environment? Keep on coding at this new series for teens in grades 6-12. Open to any teen with an understanding of the core elements of coding: variables, conditionals, loops, and functions. No registration required, just drop by! They have a limited number of laptops, so please bring a laptop if you can. 2016-2017 Meetups: December 4th and 18th, January 8th and 22nd, February 5th, 12th, and 26th, March 12th and 26th, April 9th and 23rd, May 7th and 21st, and June 4th.

Python in the 21st Century, December 14, 7:00 pm, Druker Auditorium: Are you trying to help your child decide which computer language to learn? Do you know a young person who is interested in engineering topics? Are you studying programming outside of school? As the library plans future computer science course offerings, they will be adding Python-focused courses to our activity schedule. The Python programming language is used widely by professional software engineers yet is also very friendly to beginners. Join a presentation on what Python is used for in the real world, led by Robyn Allen. Robyn holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from MIT and is an energy innovator and entrepreneur based in Boston, MA. Open to all ages.

Python Workshops, Wednesdays, January 18th and 25th and February 1st, 8th, and 15th, 4:00 pm, second floor Computer Center: Can Python programs be fun to write? YES! In these workshops you’ll work individually and as a class to write a few fun applications in Python. No prior experience in coding is necessary. This is a series of five workshops. Students who attend at least 4 out of 5 sessions will receive a certificate of completion. Grades 7-12. Online registration begins three weeks before each session.

January 18th: Write a program to generate a random password
January 25th: Write a program which lets the user play a text-based adventure game
February 1st: Write a program to test mental math skills (this program, if time permits, may include database basics)
February 8th: Write a program to automatically read the article headlines from a popular news website
February 15th: Write a program to make a poem from a random set of the words in said headlines

Casting Opportunities for Upcoming Production

There is still time to join the cast of the upcoming production of Romeo and Juliet! This production is open to 6th-10th grade students and they are especially looking for performers to fill the roles of Juliet, Nurse, and Lady Capulet.

Rehearsals are Tuesdays/Thursdays 3:30 – 6:30 pm and Sundays 10:00 am – 1:00 pm beginning December 6th. The production runs February 3th – 5th. There is some flexibility in the rehearsal schedule. So, please let them know if you have conflicts but would still like to participate. To register or for more information please visit the website www.watertownchildrenstheatre.org or email production@wctmail.org.

Etiquette Boot Camp for Kids & Teens!

Get your child in shape for the next family dinner, social gathering or formal event with Etiquette Boot Camp. The course is specifically developed for two different age groups, 7-12 and 13-17, and will teach participants how to start and maintain conversations with adults and peers, how to introduce themselves, when to interrupt and much more. Participants will learn how to set the table, use their napkin, pass food and use utensils the European and American way.

The four-hour program is interactive, thought-provoking and fun, and will focus on topics such as good manners, table manners, conversation skills, and interview, cell phone and social media etiquette. The fee is $199.00. For more information and to enroll visit theetiquetteacademy.org or call 617-608-3920.

Etiquette Boot Camp for Kids (Ages 7-12) will take place from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and Etiquette Boot Camp for Young Adults (Ages 13-17) will take place from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

December 18th
Residence Inn Boston Harbor on Tudor Wharf
34-44 Charles River Avenue

Violin teacher

Newton South high school sophomore available to tutor violin. She has studied violin for eight years and played in both public school and regional orchestras for many years. Clara can help your child learn basic technique and theory–and make it fun!
Available Saturday afternoons. $20 per hour.

Please contact Clara at cboberg429@gmail.com.

Piano teacher

Bachelor of Music in Composition from Berklee College of Music, Master of Music in Jazz Studies from New England Conservatory with 30+ years teaching experience. Learn Jazz/Blues/Classical, theory, sightreading. Build a high quality musical foundation with a patient, upbeat, and caring instructor. Beginners especially welcome. Have a positive and successful learning experience. Phone Gloria Jasinski at 617-566-9704 or email: piano566@comcast.net.

 

Tutor available 

Former Brookline and Concord teacher with 25 years experience in grades
PreK-12 is available to support students in elementary, middle and high school academic subjects, study, and organizational skills. Certified Reading and Executive Functioning specialist. Excellent parent and professional references.

Please contact Cynthia Carpenter at 978-952-8871 or cscarp@gmail.com.

Call Y3K Tutor in your home today…

When schoolwork goes the wrong way!

Their many years of experience in teaching and educational consulting has developed the right way to motivate, the right way to teach, be understood, and be remembered. Y3K tutors special ed. such as ADD, ADHD, Asperger’s, Autism, Executive Function, and gifted, regular ed. and test preparation. In addition to academic subjects, they teach children organizational skills, homework coaching, study skills, and time management.

All subjects and ages are taught. Parents can now receive 25% off the first lesson. Call 781-492-8700 or visit http://www.Y3KTutorInYourHome.com.

What’s going on at the Y

Winter Programs
Registration for Winter Programs at the Y opens on December 12th for West Suburban YMCA Members and December 16th for Non-members. Programs begin in early January and run through the end of February, including:

· Swimming Lessons for all ages including Parent & Child classes
· Aquatics Fitness Classes
· Sports Leagues and Classes
· Child Care & Sports School Vacation Programs
· Karate
· Music Lessons & Creative Arts Programs
· Personal Training and Small Group Training – including a winter weight loss challenge called “Resolutions”

Visit wsymca.org to register online or stop by the Y’s Welcome Center at 276 Church Street, Newton.

WSBL Men’s Basketball League
A new 10-week season for one of the best adult basketball leagues around begins at the end of the year. Sign up to play as a team or a free agent in our Recreational League (Monday nights) or two Competitive Leagues (Wednesday or Thursday nights).

League includes 10-week regular season plus post-season playoffs, certified officials, online statistics and team jerseys. For more information, contact Cindy Brown, League Coordinator, at cindyb@wsymca.org.

Financial Assistance is always available for Y Memberships and Programs
The West Suburban YMCA is a non-profit charitable organization and it is their mission to never turn anyone away due to an inability to pay. Please contact the Membership Department at 617-244-6050 x3653 for financial assistance with membership or program participation.

Newton Community Preservation Committee meeting December 8th

December 8th Agenda:

Jackson Road New Senior Housing  (Newton Corner), Newton Housing Authority request for off-cycle consideration)
Newton Homebuyer Assistance Program (discussion about possible restructuring)
236 Auburn Street  (Auburndale), CAN-DO pre-proposal for affordable housing and historic preservation)
Echo Bridge Historic Railing (Newton Upper Falls and Needham), MWRA pre-proposal for historic reconstruction

The full agenda and pre-meeting packet are available on the program website, www.newtonma.gov, under Committees & Meetings – Current CPC Meetings .

MEETING FORMAT: Please note that no public hearings or funding votes are scheduled at this meeting. The CPC uses pre-proposal discussions to determine whether and when it will consider each project’s full proposal, and to advise project sponsors. For each full proposal it agrees to consider, the Committee then holds a public hearing before voting on whether to recommend funding to the Newton City Council.

December 8th,  7:00 pm
Room 204, Newton City Hall